PDF

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to alternate between ship placement and shading modes. In ship placement mode, right click gives sea, left click gives circle/square, left click and drag for rounded ships.)

Theme: Solved?

Author/Opus: This is the 1st puzzle from guest contributor Bram de Laat.

Rules: Standard Battleships rules. Use the indicated fleet.

Answer String: For each row from top to bottom, enter the number of the first column from the left where a ship segment appears (enter both digits if a two-digit number). If the row is empty, enter 0. Enter these numbers as a single string with no separators.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 1:20, Master = 2:30, Expert = 5:00

Solution: PDF

Note: Follow this link for other classic Battleships. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Battleships to get started on.

All the puzzles from last week have been grouped in this PDF.

We have now launched our e-book store. This is a secured, PayPal-based ordering system and right now contains the first 4 (of 5) parts of “The Art of Puzzles”. You can get an individual part of The Art of Puzzles for $4, or the entire collection for $16. If you start by buying individual parts, the cost to complete the collection will continue to decrease (-> $12 -> $8 -> $4) so you can choose to try a few before you buy them all. If you have a solving account for the website already, that should work as your log-in to get to the secure store page. Once you purchase an e-book you will be able to download it anytime in the future by logging in to this account. As this is a new feature for us, if you run into any problems please email us using the link at the bottom of the page. We’ll be announcing more titles and a release schedule soon.

Puzzle-wise, this week highlights two things: an author and a championship. We’ll be posting six puzzles from Bram de Laat, a talented puzzle solver and author from the Netherlands. His puzzles are “extras” from the Indian Puzzle Championship as Bram made two puzzles of each type to allow the organizers some choice. The “extras” are actually some of the better puzzles, but also harder which probably motivated the competition choice. So be prepared for a harder week than usual. We will also have some bonus posts which highlight other Indian Puzzle Championship puzzles from GMPuzzle authors.

The exact schedule is this (highlight to view):
Monday (AM): Battleships by Bram de Laat
Monday (PM): Star Battle variation by Prasanna Seshadri
Tuesday (AM): Slitherlink by Bram de Laat
Tuesday (PM): Cross the Streams by Grant Fikes
Wednesday (AM): Slitherlink (Toroidal) by Bram de Laat
Wednesday (PM): Pentominous by Prasanna Seshadri
Thursday (AM): Araf by Bram de Laat
Thursday (PM): Word Nurikabe by Thomas Snyder
Friday (AM): Araf (Different Neighbors) by Bram de Laat
Friday (PM): TomTom by Grant Fikes
Saturday (AM): Battleships (Observers) by Bram de Laat
Saturday (PM): TomTom (Cipher) by Thomas Snyder

The bonus puzzle for our high-level supporters will be a Star Battle by Thomas Snyder.

PDF

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools)

Theme: June Sun

Author/Opus: This is the 179th puzzle from Thomas Snyder, aka Dr. Sudoku.

Rules: Standard Thermo-Sudoku rules.

Answer String: Enter the 3rd row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 6th row from left to right.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 6:45, Master = 9:30, Expert = 19:00

Solution: PDF

Note: Follow this link for more Thermo-Sudoku puzzles. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Thermo-Sudoku to get started on. More Thermo-Sudoku puzzles can be found in The Art of Sudoku 2.

PDF

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to shift between shading mode and the composite Yajilin mode where left click marks cells, right click marks dots in cells or X’s on edges, left click+drag draws lines.)

Theme: 13

Author/Opus: This is the 33rd puzzle from our contributing puzzlemaster Prasanna Seshadri.

Rules: Variation of Tapa Rules. Here, the clue cells can also be blackened. This means every clue is valid for all surrounding cells (up to 9) including itself. Each clue must indicate the size of all contiguous shaded groups around it. This example image should help:

Answer String: Enter the length in cells of each of the shaded segments from left to right for the marked rows, starting at the top. Separate each row’s entry from the next with a comma.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 4:30, Master = 8:15, Expert = 16:30

Solution: PDF; a solution video is available here.

Note: Follow this link for other Tapa variations and this link for classic Tapa. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Tapa puzzles to get started on.

PDF

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to shift between shading mode and the linex mode where left click+drag draws lines and right click marks X’s)

Theme: X-Cavation

Author/Opus: This is the 32nd puzzle from our contributing puzzlemaster Prasanna Seshadri.

Rules: Standard Cave rules.

Answer String: Enter the length in cells of each of the cave segments from left to right for the marked rows, starting at the top. Separate each row’s entry with a comma.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 1:45, Master = 3:45, Expert = 7:30

Solution: PDF

Note: Follow this link for other classic Caves. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Cave Puzzles to get started on.

PDF

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools)

Theme: Clue Symmetry and Logic

Author/Opus: This is the 3rd puzzle from guest contributor Murat Can Tonta.

Rules: Standard Statue Park rules.

Answer String: Enter the length in cells of each of the shaded segments from left to right for the marked rows, starting at the top. Separate each row’s entry from the next with a comma.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 1:45, Master = 2:30, Expert = 5:00

Solution: PDF

Note: Follow this link for other Statue Park Puzzles. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Statue Parks to get started on.

PDF

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools)

Theme: Don’t Get Mad, …

Author/Opus: This is the 113th puzzle from our contributing puzzlemaster Grant Fikes.

Rules: Standard Skyscrapers rules.

Answer String: Enter the 4th row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 5th row from left to right.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 1:00, Master = 1:30, Expert = 3:00

Solution: PDF

Note: Follow this link for other classic Skyscrapers. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Skyscrapers to get started on.

PDF

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools in edgex mode where left click+drag draws lines and right click marks X’s)

Theme: U’s Full

Author/Opus: This is the 112th puzzle from our contributing puzzlemaster Grant Fikes.

Rules: Standard Slitherlink rules.

Answer String: Enter the length in cells of each of the internal loop segments from left to right for the marked rows, starting at the top. Separate each row’s entry with a comma.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 1:00, Master = 1:30, Expert = 3:00

Solution: PDF

Note: Follow this link for other classic Slitherlink. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Slitherlink puzzles to get started on.

All the puzzles from last week have been grouped in this PDF.

Soon we will be making some updates to the site including finally adding an e-book store. When we launch (tentatively this Friday), 4 e-books comprising 80% of “The Art of Puzzles” collection will be available. Within the month we expect to add the last part of “The Art of Puzzles” and also an electronic form of “The Art of Sudoku”. You can get an individual part of The Art of Puzzles for $4, or the entire collection for $16. If you start by buying individual parts, the cost to complete the collection will continue to decrease (-> $12 -> $8 -> $4) so you can choose to try a few before you buy them all.

In coming months, we will release e-books and sometimes print books for titles with LITS, Caves, and an easier puzzle collection from Grant Fikes that will be a good introduction to several of our puzzle styles.

This coming week is another variety week (highlight to view):

Monday: Slitherlink by Grant Fikes
Tuesday: Skyscrapers by Grant Fikes
Wednesday: Statue Park by Murat Can Tonta
Thursday: Cave by Prasanna Seshadri
Friday: Tapa (Transparent) by Prasanna Seshadri
Saturday: Thermo-Sudoku by Thomas Snyder

The bonus puzzle for our high-level supporters will be a Tapa (Transparent) by Prasanna Seshadri.

PDF

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools)

Theme: Clue Symmetry and Logic

Author/Opus: This is the 50th puzzle from our contributing puzzlemaster Serkan Yürekli.

Rules: Divide the grid into gray and white regions, each containing exactly one number and with an area equal to that number. Numbers in white cells are part of white regions; numbers in gray cells are part of gray regions. Same colored regions cannot share an edge.

This example image should help:

Answer String: Enter the length in cells of each group (white and gray) in the marked rows. Separate the rows with a comma. For the Example, this is “13,121”.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 3:15, Master = 6:30, Expert = 13:00

Solution: PDF